JESSICA BIEL (33 y/o, 5 ft 7, W: 70, L: 43, D: 1) vs. AMANDA RIGHETTI (32 y/o, 5 ft 8, W: 61, L: 23)
(Words: Bonzo / Results: Lookout!)

Before:  Biel – a hall-of-famer and eleven-time champion – was an undisputed P4P contender for many years, although she might have lost some of her groove in recent years. She hasn’t won a title since 2012, had a dismal 1-4 record in 2013 and has only fought four times since then. Considering that, it speaks to Jess Biel’s quality and history as a fighter that her reputation as a legendary badass and the original, new-generation hardbody is still pretty much intact. Righetti on the other hand came back from a disappointing, low-profile 2014 and a failed attempt at Regan’s title to beat welter it girls Kajlich and Lancaster per back-to-back knockouts ascending the welter throne last month, now throwing in an unexpected excursion to her former weight division. Righetti ventured into catch-weight bouts at light in the past, beating Garner, Durance and Palicki along the way. We’ve rarely seen Biel moving up in recent times, and she’s lost to Cassidy freeman and Katrina Law in the past. Then, of course, there’s the rivalry between the two women themselves. Back in 2004, both were members of the legendary Technetium gym, Biel already a champion, Righetti a hungry upstart still at natural lightweight. Righetti won a surprisingly wide decision and a comeback KO victory, until Biel took revenge with a vicious knockout that practically derailed her opponent’s career for a couple of years. They’ve never met since Righetti moved to welterweight, but the hatred’s still there, as Amanda hasn’t forgotten that Biel was responsible for her most difficult career phase. “I don’t blame Biel for being frightened by me back then. In all these years at welter, I’ve always wanted to meet Jessica again someday. She’s the girl who once set the new standard for athleticism and physicality in this sport, and that’s the kind of competition I thrive on.” – Biel’s meanwhile relishing the opportunity to kick some welter ass, b’tching like it’s 2005. “It took me a while to figure her out back then, but once you find the chin, it’s relatively easy. I’m not impressed by Amanda’s pampered résumé at welter, at all. She hasn’t tasted lightweight lightning speed in years – poor girl will only find out what hit her when she wakes up afterwards.” – Pundits break down the fight to two essential questions: whether Amanda will be able to handle Jessica’s ferocious whirlwind activity/speed, and whether Jessica will be able to handle Amanda’s weight-of-shot/power. Battle takes place at catch-weight of 132 pounds (Biel insisted not to have it take place at 130 flat) and gets marketed as a division-spanning super-fight for pound-for-pound supremacy. Biel obviously taking this fight very seriously: bulking up to muscular body shape, sporting a rugged athleticism not seen on her in some time; while Righetti’s wirier than at her regular welterweight, still appearing solidly strong.

 
R1: Biel starts out in limber/supple stance, bouncing in and out of distance, dangling her left, her right tucked loosely at chin height, feinting sudden attacks, then jumping in to fetch Amanda some agile, testing jabs to mouth before hop-bobbing out again on easy legwork. Righetti obviously prepared for the whirlwind as best as she can, employing a thick-legged posture and tiiiight earmuff, accepting Biel’s potshot jabs, her sudden rights, giving up ground and position to swift Biel action, trusting her legs and body to handle Jess’s quick attacks. Occasionally, Biel slips inside, shrugging redhead indefensible right uppercuts up close, with her jabs whizzing scarily past Amanda’s nose and mouth. Righetti led in circles around the ring, attempting to track Biel when she’s coming in but usually stepping late with her pre-empting counters against Jessica’s hand-speed, her body turns, not getting to trade back before Biel’s already whirling out. Righetti almost constantly in cover-up position, blocking most but not all of the leather, dropping off strong but pretty rigid jabs into Biel’s stomach on occasion, yet she’s not impeding any of Biel’s movements. Brunette using her speed smartly, walking foe into closer tussles, then easily counter-counters Amanda’s off-ropes shots. Biel’s ripping punches spank Amanda’s strong arms/shoulders with preference – Righetti’s dukes at temple, her footwork slower but not sluggish, as of yet looking pretty much unconcerned. Late in the round, Biel pounces in again, jabbing for tummy, swirling outside range to feint wide body attack only to step back into Amanda on half-turn, SPINNING A perfect right hand aiming for Righetti’s mouth! The punch connects – Righetti’s blinking, her eyes slightly roll back in shock of instant pain – but AMANDA’S RAMMING BACK BULLISH ANSWER JABS, her two straight lefts almost mindlessly coming out of the pocket, catching an unprepared Biel on her chin, and Jess’s baby-stepping, her eyes all huffy in how-dare-you glances, circling out rapidly. That counter-attack not included, first round was all Biel, showing off her leggy power and hand-speed.
 
R2: Biel perhaps spooked by Amanda’s sassy counter last round, looks just a little less easy-breezy on her legs, pouncing in half-a-step-later now, cautioned: Righetti making good use of the less abrupt delivery, tracks one of Jessica’s sudden twisted rights early, trading her powerful straight jabs to chest, instantly halting Biel’s nimble steps harshly on her way in. Righetti jostles in to the body to trap Biel at ropes, rolling thick rights to clout brunette deeeep into her ribs, her jabs grazing Biel’s crouching head and weaving torso. Righetti solidly besieges Biel, her stout torso imposing weight and position on smaller foe – she’s bashing numbing punches onto Jessica’s arms, twists her lefts into slaps catching a stunned Biel on her mouth again and again mid-round, before reaching under Biel’s arms, roughing/wrapping up her brunette tightly, pumping in determined, massive righties into Biel’s shuddering mid-section, her left duly temple-high, unfazed by Jessi’s frustrated counter shots, proving bulky and robust against bendy-but-trapped brunette. Speed and flexibility minimizing brunette damage – Biel’s resolutely absorbing hefty clouts into her abs/flanks, but her head lankily evades most of Righetti’s thudding drumbeat – only late, one of Amanda’s chin-chopping rights tilts Biel’s head dangerously to the side, renders Biel hurt on queasy legs, has her drooping into sweaty, hold-and-squirm embrace to ride out the round.
 
R3: Biel leaping in at bell, cracking Amanda’s tight earmuff defense on early exchanges – her pouncing rights beautifully bouncing off alarmed Amanda’s stunned face – forcing Righetti into spooked/crouching cover-up posture, back-pedaling hastily into ropes, dukes up tightly at skull, leaving her mid-section uncovered: Biel weaves in and out quickly, leading on thudding body rights ripping violently at Amanda’s ribs/tummy. Jessica’s whiplashing her lefts into Righetti’s body, stroking them into tits, doing bruising body work against redhead’s shoulders/upper arms. Amanda’s puzzled by the speed, momentarily disoriented by Jessi’s pot-shotting lefts changing angles every other second. Righetti’s constantly absorbing/defending – breakneck pace not allowing her sustained counter-attacks, looking clumsy when she’s not able to track Jessica, has to readjust movements all the time, not reading Biel’s off-beat pounces, absorbing various stupefying little knocking-jabs, not blocking Biel’s leathery rights effectively: crowd oooh-ing and aaa-hing in pity whenever Amanda’s head snaps back violently from lunging Biel’s bouncy, snappish attacks. Biel so flexible/happy-bouncy on her feet, never mis-timing her punches or stepping in/out too late, more or less leaving a shell-shocked, embarrassed Righetti without any significant hit during all of the third round. Biel mounts final offense late, sustaining the pressure now, thicker lefts keeping Amanda pinned helplessly into ropes, rights strapping ribcage, as Righetti’s body shudders/wilts. Redhead’s upper lip busted at the end; two little cuts over her left eye; face puffy; her ribs bruised – she’s stumbling into corner from rat-tat-tat pressure, all round long.
 
R4: Righetti looking reasonably well-recovered from the shellfire, right hand tucked strongly at nose-height, her left outstretched into bursting little knocks, making a point of marching through Biel’s bouncy welcome-lefts early to launch commanding straight-line jabs into Biel’s chest/shoulders, imposing weight, finally reads left-right feint from her bobbin’/rotatin’ foe in time to clout Jessica with a massively hurting right hand into breastbone draining Jessi’s air full-force – brunette’s hurt, stepping to the side on rigid legs – Biel’s also late when Amanda’s right twists past her outstretched left fist, cleanly swiping across Jessica’s open mouth, probably loosening a tooth, her rapid-fire jabs driving Biel into submissive, hands-up position ropeside. Payback time: Biel hovering in ropes, switching weight from left to right foot, not looking amused by Righetti’s wide flank-busting fists ripping up her mid-section, her own jabs sailing past attentive Amanda’s head. Her flexibility constrained by Amanda’s meaty top position, she’s coming up short in punch-to-punch exchanges, relegated into swift head movements, absorbing/deflecting those thick jabs aiming for her skull on her gloves, flinching in confusion when Amanda’s bending her uppercut right suddenly lower into tits to rotate shoulders into rapid jabs on chin. Biel’s making desperate, bulky attempts at wrestling free during final minute, grappling Amanda while pumping in bashing rights to foe’s side, but not getting solid redhead to budge – Righetti bending forward full-weight, entrapping Jessica thick-leggedly, grazing Biel’s chest with robust jabs, quickly taking over again when they’re separated by ref, holding her stance when Biel lunges out for Amanda’s head with brisk, pawing lefts, resolutely walking Jess down behind the jab even though Biel’s scoring on her left and right cheek when she’s within redhead’s reach. Righetti irresistible when those jabs rotate up-tempo, bashing aggressively past Jess’s counters: Biel’s turn to stagger to her corner at bell, looking sweaty/frazzled, her ribs worn-out.
 
R5: Despite four rounds of breakneck speed and accumulating damage, girls don’t show any sign of taking a break: Biel out to prove legwork early, working out of agile, crouching stance, stooping/weaving to drop wear-and-tear punches all over Amanda’s stomach, luring redhead forward by hopping backwards, her hands dangling low instead of extending walking pressure – then Biel’s suddenly hustling to the front again mid-movement when Amanda steps out herself, pulling a monstrous right out of the pocket, successfully cleaning up on startled Righetti walking right into the barrage, touching up redhead’s face: Righetti’s groaning, her face distorted in pain, she’s hurt, tottering hastily to the side, not punching, her passive left outstretched to keep Biel at range. Jessica’s unfurling her jabs for pressure, walking n’ punching forward, driving home thundering rights in Amanda’s open/wounded flanks, slumping her redhead into ropes. Biel’s using opportunity for greedy jostles, bumping into shaky Righetti, squirming tough in the grasp, displaying impressive strength against redhead body, pressing Amanda into ropes, holding her arm while pumping in righties under Righetti’s armpit, enjoying the jerking impact, as Righetti rests her head on Jessi’s beefy shoulders – camera zooming in on her closed eyes when one of the bashing rights pounds her side – before ref moves in to separate struggling beauties.
 
Last minute, Biel slows down from rope-side bodywork, mostly stepping on the spot, starting to drive Amanda into trading leather, searching for quit, catapulting haymaker rights onto Righetti’s earmuff defense, her jabs turning more straightforwardly destructive. Righetti’s adjusting, though, working well with Jessi’s more regular, easier-to-read punches, as girls swap a couple of bashing lefts on noses/mouths – both women end up scoring, and later, Amanda’s left jabs blast past Biel’s right hooks, cracking painfully through to Jessi’s temple, mopping up with a tidy right hand crushing under Biel’s chin, snapping her head down. Brunette’s learning her lesson quickly, pivoting out of range – showing incredible conditioning and those flexible legs, elegantly side-stepping her foe time and again – reverting to pouncing mode as redhead stalks her in circles behind lashing, rotating lefts. Down the stretch, Biel’s still doing plenty of damage – bobbing in with clawing hooks to jaw, ripping lefts to tummy – but at this point, Righetti’s confident enough to brawl her way through the sudden attacks, slapping punishing counters on Biel’s flanks when she’s rushing out, clipping Jess a clean, smiting answer on her left cheek when she reads the brunette sneaking/rushing her way in, and Biel’s staggering out sideways herself as a result, trooping up outside range. Girls spin clockwise behind long, set-piece jabs, only touching gloves until the bell: Biel's winning a close round, but she made her beat-down move too early.
 
R6: Girls prove stamina/recuperation – Biel hopping from one foot to the other, pondering her way in, as willowy as in the first round, always darting in with a little jump; Righetti exhibiting big-girl mobility, helped by the couple of pounds shed for the bout, moving her head well, handling Jessi’s piercing pot-shots more effectively through experience, blocking/dodging more punches. Biel’s strategy steady: she scoops in early, plugging electrifying hooks to Amanda’s wide frame, her brutal straight lefts swatting past Righetti’s right cheek inside the grasp before swiveling off to the side. Righetti turns-with swiftly, catching Jessi unprepared to the torso, her long jabs spanking firm tummy meat, then changes weight to left foot, pummeling right-fisted hooks blowing into/past Biel’s defending hands, spreading the pressure by rolling jab barrage onto tripping Biel, alternating with her right hand’s stout smacks at Jessica’s skull, each punch bumping the hurt brunette a few steps backward. Biel’s trying to stop the momentum by speed, lunging in off-rhythm with her head all hunched low, shelling redhead furious whirlwind hooks all over upper body, her wide, thick punches pushing for Amanda’s arms/flanks, attempting to topple/force Righetti into ropes. Righetti’s battered/depressed backwards, laying back deep in ropes, hands tightly defending her head, soaking up Biel’s rat-a-tat pressure, cringing under Jessi’s wide, long hooks brushing into her from the side. Suddenly, ear-muffed Righetti explodes into vicious straight-arm lefts blocking/suppressing Jessica’s extended sideway rights, striking EVERY BIT of JESS BIEL’S EXPOSED CHIN! Losing balance, her face convulsed by the crushing impact, eyelashes fluttering, Biel’s taking dazed little steps laterally forward, mustering every bit of strength in her strong legs/knees not to collapse, straightening up in pain and only juuusst getting her arms up in time to fend off Amanda’s axing haymaker right aiming to flatten her left ear.
 
Biel’s hopping into reverse, rendered all wobbly-butt, getting stiffly stalked by Righetti’s poaching lefts. Jess so tough: even now, she’s attempting to subdue her foe with crazy-speed, rushing into redhead all while absorbing those rolling, venomous jabs on her mouth – still dropping formidable, splashing counters in Righetti’s tummy – although one of Amanda’s inserted rights collects all of her jaw, jerking her head to the side with a groan, has her swooning into turnbuckles on staggering feet. Righetti so relieved to finally suppress Biel into passiveness: instantly rotating shoulders into punishing/processing mode, burying angry rights in Jessi’s ribs, bashing her upper body/arms, splitting Biel’s mitts again late, landing an excruciating jab under her opponent’s right eye, working her brawn into stupefying siege of Biel’s locked-in body who’s only absorbing and absorbing. Girls all up in each other’s face at bell: Biel tilting up to full height, eyes smoldering in defiance, surviving two dreadful thuds to jaw without a knockdown, badly beaten throughout sixth round but not showing an ounce of quit in her body – girls just staring each other down in this blazing-hot battle for supremacy, until ref forces them apart to their respective corners.
 
R7: Biel’s coming out of her corner demonstrating incredible resilience – her glorious legs undiminished, as she’s bobbing up and down, ripping Amanda’s strong guard open/vulnerable with short bursts of speed into range, plugs Righetti a shrugged left uppercut to temple, cleaning up with a right-fisted liver hook on her way out of reach, prancing on the spot to woo redhead into her projected counters, dangling hands, popping jabs into Amanda’s raised arms. Jessi’s successfully luring Amanda into a tentative half-step forward, trading her for reciprocal jabs on the mouth: splitting Righetti’s upper lip open again; narrowly turning her head in time to deflect Amanda’s flattening responsive whack from fully cracking on her nose, as both girls get through to skull. Biel’s turning to pursue redhead, stalk her to ropes: Jessi’s shoulders churning out limber whacks with her left, rocking Amanda’s guard – Righetti’s not yielding, waiting with her pawing jab for Jessi’s next whack, twitching it over Biel’s outstretched arm massively into her tits, then rolls her right on Biel’s inviting cheek, soaking up Jessi’s left on her own chin with a grunt. Both girls bobbing out of range, circling, slowing down – Righetti’s turn to skip up and down, moving weight from one foot to the other, suddenly bursting forward with a little lunge, tagging an off-guard Biel two/three jabs on her guard, splitting her mitts with a fourth one penetrating through to Jess’s temple, extending a right just to punish Biel’s tits, as Jessi’s stumbling backwards, astonished by the heft, her counters blocked by Amanda’s elbows. Righetti’s sensing momentum, unloading wide hooks from outside reach in ear-muffed Biel’s ribcage, cutting off the ring, trudging through Jessica’s defensive lefts to bury a hatchet body hook in her stomach, then pivots out, now tempting Biel herself to march into her counters. Biel doesn’t mind, pawing for Amanda’s face with her lefts, jump-starting unharmed into sweaty/meaty contact, squirming for position, holding/wrestling while clouting Righetti repeated monster hooks above the ear. Amanda gets caught awkwardly: she looks hurt, stooping her head to escape the punches, pressing forward while walking to overwhelm her foe, as girls cling to each other in furiously embattled clinch, each girl ramming fists into whatever body part’s available – ref’s struggling to separate the seething beauties!
 
As girls circle into each other again, Righetti’s jab-jab-right combinations turn relentless: rhythmically pumped, bruising stuff chopping away at Jessi’s stern meat – Biel’s back-pedaling, struggling to hold her ground against whacking attacks, shuddering/blown backwards. At one point, her gloves just get ruggedly slugged apart, creating an opening for Amanda’s right to penetrate, cracking with a thump onto Jessi’s nose – her head shrugs down, eyes blinking in confusion. Biel’s furious, proudly moving ahead despite the constant poke, championship fighter refusing to get stalked or walked down, strutting forward into harmful trade for physical superiority. As girls jostle into close range, they keep pumping fists simultaneously, ramming them in under and over their respective arms. Biel’s able to tag Amanda’s chin at one point, but coming up short during most of these thudding exchanges – legs finally losing that lithe bounce, as both women swap punches in broad, thick-legged stance – suddenly, a vicious right hand splits those mitts AGAIN, and Amanda scores another massive slug right between Biel’s nose/mouth. Jessi’s torso gets unhinged: she’s bouncing backwards into ropes, looking finished, but dimly straightens to raise her hands, keeps poking lefts back at her foe! Righetti settles in and and stubbornly wipes her sweeping right hand over Jessica’s jab in response, cracking against Biel’s skull/cheekbone, then tilts the folding brunette upright with two straightening lefts to chest, and BRUTALLY shoves that right hand back into her skull! Amanda’s punch catching every bit of Biel’s upper jaw – poor Jessi’s finished for good, her eyes roll back, instantly dropping her hands to lap! Biel’s body’s sloshes forward, spinning down in front of Amanda: proud body lands on her back with a thud parallel to ropes, her arms flopping up over her head, ribcage heaving up and down, eyes gazing up blankly, legs twitching in automated attempts at rising – as Amanda Righetti remains the last woman standing with a crushing KO7!
 
After: What a slugfest! Righetti and Biel displaying primeval woman-to-woman struggle, as athletic hard-bodies keep bashing each other for physical supremacy, withstanding countless numbers of big-time punches without any knockdown until the one that ended Biel’s night. Jessica's gently led back to her corner, propped up by her team, submissive and devastated - bitter moments for proud superstar to come up short in this war. Righetti – getting treated for various little bruises on her puffy face, her upper lip split, holding her sore ribs – admits she was put to the limit: “That must have been one of the hardest battles I’ve ever fought. You know, at welter nobody possesses Jessica’s god-d*mn speed, and that was probably the biggest challenge for me tonight. But I beat her, and that just feels epic."